Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CHAPTER III. ACTS AND WORDS OF JESUS FROM HIS BAPTISM TO THE FIRST PASSOVER FEAST. Section 1.—The TEMPtATioN. Matt. lv, 1-11; Mark l, 12,18; Luke lv, 1-13. AFTER the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John, which act was performed, most probably, in the month of January, A. I). 27, Jesus entered into the most trying experience of his whole life. It was the notable fast and temptation. This experience of Jesus has a twofold design: First, it was preparatory. Jesus came into the world for the great work of redemption, and, as man, he needed strength to begin and go through with such a task. He also needed familiarity, through experience, with the weaknesses of man under physical, lustful, and ambitious trial. This he received in the temptation. Second, it was exemplary. Jesus here lays down a means of grace, fasting, which is recommended in his Word, and, according to his own utterance, the most powerful agency of the Christian religion. When he wrought what the disciples could not, he stated to them, upon being asked why they could not perform the miracle, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Hence, we gather, from the nature of the temptation, a need of spiritual strength to work for the Lord Jesus, and this we can always get through prayer and fasting. But we find more light upon its beneficence by reference to 80 the Antechrist ian characters. Take Moses and Elijah, who both fasted the same length of time Jesus did, that they might gather strength to perform the grave duties resting upon them, and became fully sanetified for all required of their lives. But now we turn to look at the practical part of the temptation. It was in the desert of Judea, doubtless in the month of January or February, for Mark says immediately after his baptism he was driven or forcefully le...